Attachment for articulators



-oct- 16, A. J. NAGGI ATTACHMENT FOR ARTICULATORS Filed Nov. 20, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ANGEL u. NAGGI A. J. NAGGI ATTACHMENT FOR ARTICULATORS Oct. 16, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 20, 1947 IPWIIA Elg- INVENT ANGEL J. NA

Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ATTACHMENT FOR ARTIOULATORS Angel J. Naggi, Allentown, Pa.

Application November 20, 1947, Serial No. 787,045

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to a dental articulator and more particularly to an attachment for removable and swingable engagement with a frame of a dental articulator. The primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple and efficient apparatus for setting teeth in place on the lower plate.

The apparatus of the present invention is adapted to be employed in the manner set forth in U. S. Patent No. 1,736,006, issued to H. C. Hagman, November 19, 1929. In said patent. theory is set forth wherein a curved mounting plate is brought into contact with portions of the occluding surfaces of the teeth, trial plates, or other lower jaw models, to permit the proper positioning of them. It has been found that the normal surfaces of occlusion of the human teeth coincide with the surface of a curved plate or sphere approximately six to eight inches in diameter, which has its center at a point situated above the roof of the mouth and intercepted by the longitudinal axes of the teeth. The relative movements of the lower jaw with respect to the upper jaw will be closely reproduced as the upper jaw is assumed to be universally pivoted at the center of said sphere, and articulated by swinging about this center.

The theory set forth in Patent No. 1,736,006, embraces the process of mounting jaw models for articulation in an articulator having a model support pivoted for universal movement which includes the steps of attaching a finder having a curved or spheric surface to said model support with the periphery thereof at a distance from the point of pivot of said model support equal to the radius of a sphere whose surface conforms to the surface of occlusion of the jaw model to be mounted therein, restraining said model support from movement, positioning the particular jaw model with the surface of occlusion thereof in contact with the curve or spheric surface of said finder, securing said jaw model in adjusted position upon the articulator, removing said curved plate or finder, attaching a jaw model mounting to said pivoted model support, positioning the complemental jaw model in occlusion with said first jaw model, and in securing said second jaw model upon said mounting in said occluded position of said second jaw model.

With the above description in the background, my invention relates to an attachment for articulator having a plurality of different Ways of adjusting the finder or mounting plate with reference to the lower jaw model thus making it easier and simpler to set the lower jaw model into cor- 2 rect position for subsequent mounting of the complemental upper jaw model, so that the upper teeth plate and the lower plate will be in proper position.

In one of its aspects, the present invention embraces an articulator including a frame and a model support at the base thereof, and including a supporting assembly removably and swingably attached to said frame, with a movable hanger assembly carried by said swingable supporting assembly, and with said movable hanger assembly including a universally supported pivot carrying a mounting plate which is adapted to overlie the model support at the base of said frame.

More particularly, the present invention embraces an articulator having an upright frame and a model support at the base thereof, wherein a swingable support is removably and swingably attached to said upright frame, with said swingable support being adjustably attached to a bracket which in turn adjustably carries a member having a spindle universally secured at the lower end thereof. There is provided a locking 7 device associated with said member to selectively the features of my invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the dental articulator;

Figure 3 is a disassembled view of a portion of the dental articulator device, showing the various parts in disassembled relationship; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail of the universally mounted spindle, depicting the locking mechanism for selectively locking the spindle against universal movement, and taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral l0 generally represents the dental articulator embodying the features of the present invention and comprises an upright frame member I I having spaced-apart legs, and a lower model supporting member 12 upon which is positioned plaster of Paris, or the like, to form a support i2,5%1,2so

' 3 for the artificial models or jaws I3 provided with lower teeth I4.

The spaced-apart legs of the frame II extend upwardly and slightly at an angle from the vertical to converge outwardly to terminate in free end portions I5, each of which is provided with a hook portion I6 for the purpose more fully described hereinafter. The frame member is centrally provided with a cross piece I? apertured to threadedly receive a screw I8 which is adjustably secured in position by means of a wing nut IS. The cross piece 11 is additionally provided with a downwardly extending lug portion 20 adapted to hold the central portion of a spring band 2| which has its free end portions 22 in close relation to the hook portions I6. The structure just described is somewhat similar in purpose and character to the structure described in Patent No. 1,452,477 issued to Edward L. Chott on April 17, 1923.

One of the main features of my invention is to provide a removable attachment for the frame portion I I so that I may position the lower teeth I4 in place and then remove the attachment and use it to align teeth positioned on another jaw supporting apparatus, similar to the one described heretofore. To accomplish this result, I have provided a removable attachment for a dental articulator which is swingable and adjustable in any direction. The removable attachment comprises a supporting member generally indicated by the numeral 23, which is centrally provided with an ear 24, which is adapted to bear against the base of the screw I8 to limit the vertical movement of the supporting member 23, which movement can be adjusted by means of the screw I8 and the wing nut I3, so as to limit the swingable movement of the supporting member 23 to a desired degree depending upon the needs of the apparatus. The supporting member 23 is provided at the free ends thereof with a projecting rod or reduced portion 25 having associated therewith an enlarged portion 26 on the tip end thereof. The supporting member 23 removably engages with the frame I I by positioning the rods 25 under the hook portion I6, and is held in place by means of the spring band 2| against easy removal. When it is desired to remove the supporting member 23 from the frame portion I I, the supporting member 23 is pushed against the spring band 2| and forced upwardly and away from the hook portions I6. This structure, wherein the supporting member 23 is removably secured to the frame portion II, is generally shown in Patent No. 1,452,477.

One of the primary features of my invention is to adjustably secure the supporting member 23 to an apparatus for positioning the lower jaw teeth. I accomplish this by providing the supporting member 23 with a threaded aperture, oppositely disposed from leg 24, and adapted to receive a screw 21 which is adapted to receive a wing nut 28. The screw 21 is positioned through an aperture 29 in the lower arm 30 of a bracket member generally indicated by the numeral 3|. The bracket 3| is provided, in addition to the lower portion 30, with a step-up portion 32 and an upper portion 33 which is in a different horizontal plane from the lower portion 30.

The upper member 33 of the bracket 3| is apertured as at 34 to receive a turnscrew 35 which engages through an aperture of a washer 36 and the aperture of a lower washer 31 and threadedly engages in a hanging member generally in- 4 dicated by the numeral 38. The hanging member 38 comprises a cylindrical member 39 which is apertured to receive a bolt 40 having a head 4| and is removably held in position by means of screw 42.

At the lower end of the hanging member 38 there is secured a ball 43 within a suitable socket 44 to provide a universal joint. A spindle 45 is secured to the ball 43 for universal movement therewith. The lower end of the spindle carries a washer 46 which is held in place by a nut 41 and to which is removably secured a mounting plate 48 provided with a slotted portion 49 so that said mounting plate 48 may be adjusted as desired when mounting the teeth I4.

In accordance with the theory set forth in Hagman Patent No. 1,736,006, as described hereinbefore, the mounting plate 48 is provided with cross score marks 50 and 5| to assist in properly positioning the mounting plate 48 with reference to the teeth I4.

The universal movement of the spindle 45 is limited by a locking device which comprises the bolt 4|) which is cut away within the cylinder 39 so that a quarter turn of the bolt 40 will cause the said bolt to bear against a seat 52 and exert pressure on the ball 43 to prevent universal movement of the spindle 45.

The attachment for an articulator which comprises the present invention may be employed with any suitable articulator now in use. For example, the attachment may be employed with the dental articulator set forth in the Chott Patent No. 1,452,477.

In operation, the bite block, that is to say, the block without the teeth, is mounted on an articulator such as shown in the Chott Patent No. 1,452,477, with the plaster cast for the upper and lower jaw models. Next the minor adjustments are made for occlusion. Thereafter, a pair of dividers are employed to establish the length of the occlusion line by taking a center point on the lower jaw cast and adjusting the dividers to meet the occlusion line on the bite block. A

- mark is placed on the lower jaw cast corresponding to the length of the occlusion line from a center point on the lower cast, to indicate said length of the occlusion line so that the upper jaw model may be discarded for the time being. The next step is to take off the upper part of the articulator with the bite block and upper cast, as can be accomplished with the apparatus shown in the Chott Patent No. 1,452,477. Now my attachment is secured to the frame of the articulator to set the teeth on the lower .jaw model with the mounting plate to properly align the teeth. The mounting plate is suitably adjusted to conform to the occlusion line, which may vary depending upon the size of the mouth. The teeth are set on the lower jaw model by first setting the center tooth and working to the right and left. The adjustable mounting plate is employed to make sure that the teeth are in proper alignment 'so that when teeth are set in the upper jaw, they will be properly aligned with the teeth on the lower jaw. After the teeth have been set on the lower jaw model, my attachment is removed from the frame of the dental articulator. The next step is to return to the frame of the articulator the upper bite block with the plaster cast, which was removed in an earlier step, so as to align the teeth on the upper jaw model. Now it is a simple matter to set the teeth in the upper jaw to conform to the teeth of the lower jaw.

tion embraces an attachment for a dental articulator provided with aframe and generally comprises an adjustable bracket assembly adapted for removable and swingable attachment to said frame, with a spindle universally carried by said bracket assembly, and a mounting plate carried by said spindle whereby to properly align the teeth on the lower jaw model.

Various modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and it is therefore my intention to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: r

1. In a dental articulator comprising a frame and a support for holding a lower jaw model; an apparatus for setting teeth in place on the lower plate, comprising a swingable support adapted for removable and swingable engagement with the frame, a movable member, a bracket connecting said swingable support and said movable member, said bracket being provided with a plurality of slots, fastening means securing said swingable support to said bracket at one of said slots t9 permit said movable member to be selectively moved toward and away from said swingable sup: port, second fastening means securing said mov: able member to said bracket at another slot there; in to permit said movable member to be moved in a plurality of directions with said movement being independent of said first mentioned move: ment of said movable member toward and away from said swingable support, a spindle universally connected to the lower end of said movable member, and a mounting plate secured to said spindle and adapted to overlie said lower jaw model.

2. In a dental articulator comprising a frame and a support for holding a lower jaw model; an apparatus for setting teeth in place on the lower plate, comprising a swingable support adapted for removable and swingable engagement with the frame, a movable member, a bracket connecting said swingable support and said movable member, said bracket being provided with a plurality of slots, fastening means securing said swingable support to said bracket at one of said slots to permit said movable member to be selectively moved toward and away from said swingable support,sec- 0nd fastening means securing said movable member to said bracket at another slot therein to permit said movable member to be moved in a plurality of directions with said movement being independent of said first mentioned movement of said movable member toward and away from said swingable support, a spindle universally connected to the lower end of said movable member, a locking device associated with said movable member to selectively lock said spindle against universal movement, and a mounting plate secured to said spindle and adapted to overlie said lower jaw model.

3. In a dental articulator comprising a frame and a support for holding a lower jaw model; an apparatus for setting teeth in place on the lower plate, comprising a swingable support adapted for removable and swingable engagement with the frame, a movable member, a bracket connecting said swingable support and said movable member, said bracket being provided with a plurality of slots, fastening means securing said swingable support to said bracket at one of said slots to permit said movable member to be selectively moved toward and away from said swingable support, second fastening means securing said movable member to said bracket at another slot therein to permit said movable member to be moved in a plurality of directions with said movement being independent of said first mentioned movement of said movable member toward and away from said swingable support, a spindle universally connected to the lower end of said movable member, a locking device associated with said movable member to selectively lock said spindle against universal movement, and a slotted mounting plate removably and adjustably secured to said spindle and adapted to overlie said lower jaw model.

4. In a dental articulator comprising a frame and a support for holding a lower jaw model; an apparatu for setting teeth in place on the lower plate, comprising a swingable support adapted for removable and swingable engagement with the frame, a movable member, a bracket connecting said swingable support and said movable member, said bracket having two spaced-apart apertures in different horizontal planes, fastening means securing said swingable support to said bracket at the aperture disposed in the lower horizontal plane to permit said movable member to be selectively moved toward and away from said swingable support, second fastening means securing said movable member to said bracket at the aperture disposed in the upper horizontal plane to permit said movable member to be moved in a plurality of directions with said movement being independent of said, first mentioned movement of said movable member toward and away from said swingable support, a spindle universally connected to the lower end of said movable member, a locking device associated with said movable member to selectively lock said spindle against universal movement, and a mounting plate secured to said spindle and adapted to overlie said lower jaw model.

5. In an articulator having a frame and a model support at the base thereof; a supporting assembly removably and swingably attached to said frame, a movable member having a threaded opening, a bracket having one end portion attached to said supporting assembly and its opposite. end portion provided with an aperture, a fastening element having a portion of less diameter than said aperture in said bracket and extending through said aperture to detachably engage said movable member, bearing means interposed between said fastening element and the portion of said bracket which surrounds the aperture in said bracket for providing a bearing member between said fastening element and said bracket, a spindle universally connected to said movable member, and a mounting plate secured to said spindle.

6. In an articulator having a frame and a model support at the base thereof; a supporting assembly removably and swingably attached to said frame, a movable member having a threaded opening, a bracket having one end portion attached to said supporting assembly and its opposite end portion provided with an aperture, fastening means for mounting said movable member on said bracket in a plurality of positions disposed in a plurality of relatively different directions, comprising an upper washer engaging the portion of the upper surface of said bracket which surrounds said aperture, a lower washer engaging the portion of the lower surface of said bracket which surrounds said aperture, a screw having a shank of less diameter than that of said aperture and extending through said aperture and said washers and detachably received in the threaded opening of the movable member, said screw having a shoulder for engaging the upper washer for firmly clamping the movable member to the bracket in the selected adjusted position, a spindle universally connected to said movable member, and a mounting plate secured to said spindle.

7. In an articulator having an upright frame and a model support at the base thereof; a support attached to said upright frame, a bracket mounted on said support, a hanging member mounted on said bracket and having a socket therein, a ball received by said socket, a. spindle attached to said ball for universal movement therewith, a mounting plate attached to said spindle, said hanging member having an aperture therein, a seat member carried by said hanging member and having one face engaging said ball and its opposite face disposed within said aperture, a bolt rotatably received by said aperture and having a cut-away portion for receiving said seat member when the bolt is in one position to permit of adjustment of said spindle and mounting plate and having a surface for engaging said seat member to bind the ball between the seat member and the walls of the socket for holding the ball and spindle against movement, and a fastening element mounted on the hanging member for holding the bolt against rotation,

ANGEL J. NAGGI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 537,812 Bragg Apr. 23, 1895 565,326 Bragg Aug. at, 1896 1,452,477 ChOt-t Apr, 17, 1923 1,654,453 Brown Dec. 27, 1927 1,736,006 Hagman Nov. 19, 1929 2,180,6 3 Galetti Nov. 21, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 460,748 France Dec. 10, 1913 

